Water and steam system for steam-driven automobiles



r. I. DU PONT.

WATER AND smm SYSTEM FOR STEAM 0mm: AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE18 l9l9. 1,313,676, Patented Aug. It), 1919.

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WATER AND STEAM SYSTEM FOR STEAM DRIVEN AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION flLED JUNE 18, I919.

latcntcd Aug. 19, 1915).

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FRANCIS I. DU POINT, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

WATER AND STEAM SYSTEM FOR STEAM-DRIVEN AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed June 18, 1919. Serial No. 305,017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS I. DU PoN'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilmington, county of New Castle, and State of Delaware,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water and Steam Systemsfor Steam-Driven Automobiles, of which the fcllowin is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to improve the water and steam system of asteam driven automobile.

In the standard steam driven car, the feed water is pumped from thewater supply tank through a s ecial feed water heater on its way to theboiler, its temperature therein being raised by exchange of heat with exhaust steam flowing from the engine to the radiator condenser.

The standard arrangement has several practical disadvantages. The engineis not in operation all the time, since on a slight down grade steam isturned off. During this time the feed water pump is working and waterpassing through the feed water heater is not heated. Again, when theengine is running, the radiator condenser is insufficient in capacity tocondense all the steam, and, therefore, some of it goes back along thedrip pipe and heats up the water in the'water tank. While the heating ofthe water in the water tank is desirable, the only steam available forthat purpose, with the present standard arrangement, is that which hasnot been condensed due to the lack of efficiency in the radiatorcondenser.

The more specific objects of my invention are to use the greatestpossible percentage of the exhaust steam in the useful work of heatingthe feed water.

A further object of my invention is to reduce to a minimum the loss ofwater, by escape of exhaust steam, by increasing the efficiency of theradiator condenser.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a diagram, partly in perspective, of my improved steamand water system.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the radiator condenser shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a plan view, longitudinal sectlon andcross-section of a modified form of radiator condenser.

a is the engine; b the boiler; c the water tank; and d the radiatorcondenser. Within the water tank, which isprovided with a cover notshown, are manifolds e and 7 connected by a series of pipes g ofrelatively small diameter.

The exhaust steam from the engine cylinder passes through the Pipe hinto the manifold c and thence through the pipes g, which are immersedin the water in the tank, into the manifold f. The exhaust steam heatsthe water in the tank and may be partly condensed in the pipes g.

The manifold f has two outlets. One outlet is a small pipe 2' extendingup from a point near the bottom of the manifold 7' and opening into theupper part of the water tank. The other outlet j leads to the condenserd.

The pipe 2' is of small diameter and allows the escape of water whichhas condensed in the pipes g. The pipe 6 must not be of such size as toallow any appreciable amount of exhaust steam to escape into the watertank. The force which drives the water from the bottom of the manifold fup the pipe 71 is the back pressure due to the friction of the exhauststeam passing to the radiator condenser (Z. The pipe 11 terminates, asstated, at or near the top of the water tank in order that, when theexhaust is not flowing through the iping, the water will not be suckedfrom t 1e tank back into the system.

The radiator condenser d comprises two headers or frames m and n made ofrectangular tubing. The upper frame m is connected with the lower framea by a large number of small vertical tubes 0. A cross pipe k, whichconnects opposite longitudinal tu es of the frame m, is connected withthe pipe 7' and distributes the exhaust steam to both sides of thetubing frame m. The frame m may be arched in front to give aconventional appearance to the radiator.

From the lower frame a a pipe 7) leads back to the water tank and entersit near the top, so that water will not be sucked into the condenserfrom the tank.

From the tank a pipe r leads to the boiler having interposed in it theusual boiler feed pump 8, and t represents the supply pipe from theboiler to the engine.

I have not herein shown the automatic bypass for the water when thewater in the boiler reaches a predetermined level, and other details ofthe water and steam system,

nor have I shown the fuel system; as it is obvious that the illustrationand description of these details would not asslst 1n understanding myinvention.

Since the water in the tank 0 is the boiler feed water, there is nobetter way of conserving heat than to absorb it at first as much aspossible in this water. As the amount of water carried, however, in asteam driven automobile is not great, this water soon reaches boilingpoint, after which the excess steam passes over and is condensed in thecondenser. A feed water heater would, after the feed water reached thelioiling point, be useless, as the water in the tank is already heatedas much, or nearly as much, as it would be heated by means of a feedwater heater, even if the engine were working continuously.

Instead of the radiator condenser shown in Figs. land 2, I may use theradiator condenser shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, wherein the exhaust steamflowing through pipe 9' is conducted to a longitudinally extendingmid-rib pipe or header to, which, by means of two series of small pipeso and w extending laterally and downward, is connected with a header ortubing frame a: similar to frame m or n. This construction may bepreferable from the standpoints of ease of construction and efficiency,although its shape does not conform so well to that of a conventionalautomobile.

' Having now fully described my invention,

' what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a water and steam system for steam vdriven automobiles,-thecombination with the engine, of a tank for the water supply, a watersupply heater comprising a multitude of pipes of relatively smalldiameter extending into the lower part of the water supply tank, acondenser, an exhaust pipe connection from the engine. to the watersupply heater, a pipe connection from the water supply heater to thecondenser, and a pipe connection for water of condensatioili from thecondenser to the water supply tan r.

2. In a water and steam system for steam driven automobiles, thecombination with the engine, of a tank for the water supply, a watersupply heater in the water supply tank, an exhaust pipe connection fromthe engine to the water supply heater, a condenser, and two outlets fromthe water supply heater, one for steam to the condenser and the otherfor condensed Water to the upper part of the water supply tank. 3. In awater and steam system for steam driven automobiles, the combinationwith the engine, of a tank for the water supply, a water supply heatercomprising a multi tude of pipes of relatively small diameter extendinginto the lower part of the water supply tank, a condenser, an exhaustpipe connection from the engine to the water supply heater, a pipeconnection from the water supply heater to the condenser, a pipeconnection for water of condensation from the condenser to the watersupply tank, and a pipe extending from the bottom part of the watersupply heater to the upper part of the water supply tank and throughwhich water that has condensed in the water supply heater will beexpelled by back pressure due to the friction of'the exhaust steampassing to the condenser.

4:. In a water and steam system for steamdriven automobiles, thecombination with the engine, of a tank for the water supply, a heaterthrough which exhaust steam passes, said heater being in contact withthe water in said supply tank, a radiator condenser arranged to receivesuch exhaust steam as may not be condensed in the aforesaidheater, and aconduit to convey the water of condensation from the radiator condenserto the water supply tank.

5. In a water and steam system for steam driven automobiles, thecombination with the engine, of a tank for the water supply, acondenser, an admission pipe connection to the condenser, an exhaustpipe connection from the engine, and a water supply heater in the watersupply tank, said heater comprising a manifold connected with theexhaust pipe from the engine, a manifold connecting with the admissionpipe to the condenser, and a multitude of relatively small pipesconnecting the two manifolds.

6. In a water and steam system for steam driven automobiles, thecombination with the engine, of a tank for the water supply, a watersupply heater in the tank, an exhaust pipe connection from the engine tothe water supply heater, a pipe connectionfrom the water supply heater,a radiator condenser communicating with the last named pipe connection,and a pipe connec-' tion for water of condensation from the radiatorcondenser to the water supply tank; said radiator condenser comprisingan upper header, a lower header, and two series of tubes connecting saidheaders.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Phila,Penna, on this 17th day of June, 1919.

FRANCIS 1. vs roar,

